Standing on the field at Mercedes Benz Stadium, during the FIFA World Cup, before over 68,000 fans and alongside some of the world’s biggest soccer stars, 17-year-old Nicholas had a moment he says he’ll never forget.
Just the day earlier, he had struggled to imagine what it would feel like. After it was over, he was still processing the experience.
For Nicholas, one of thousands of young Atlantans watching the city welcome the world’s biggest sporting event, the tournament became more than something to watch. It became something he was part of.
“I was just looking up and just looking around. I was just shocked,” Nicholas said. “I was like, ‘This is really happening. I’m at the World Cup. This is big.'”
Nicholas, a member of the Warren Boys & Girls Club in Atlanta, was selected as one of six local teens to serve as a flag bearer during the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on July 7, where Argentina won 3-2 against Egypt. He earned the opportunity through his participation in the Coca-Cola FC Academy, a career-readiness program that introduces teens to careers in the sports industry while helping them develop leadership and professional skills.
Before the match, Nicholas said learning he had been chosen came as a complete surprise.
“They surprised us,” he said, recalling the moment he received a bag filled with World Cup gear and the news that he had been selected.
“There are a lot of people that could have been in this seat that I’m in, and I was one of the ones that got chosen. I was proud of myself, and I’m very grateful to everyone who gave me this opportunity and who believed in me.”
For Nicholas, the honor represented more than a chance to attend one of the world’s largest sporting events.
“It means I’m representing myself, the Boys & Girls Club, my family,” he said before the match. “It’s an amazing opportunity … I’m going to remember this moment forever.”
The Boys & Girls Club has been part of Nicholas’ life for as long as he can remember. His mother works for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, and he joked that the staff have known him “since I was in my mom’s stomach.” Growing up around the Club, he said, made it feel like a second home long before he officially became a member.
Today, he serves as treasurer of the Club’s Keystone program, where he helps with concessions during events and has developed leadership skills. Nickolas described the positive impact of his participation in the Boys and Girls club.
“I became very confident in myself,” he said. “I look at myself as a very good leader … I’ve basically grown up with them.”
His involvement with the Boys & Girls Club led him to the Coca-Cola FC Academy, where he explored careers in the sports industry beyond playing the game. Nicholas said his favorite modules focused on leadership and marketing, and he credits the program with broadening his perspective while helping him step outside his comfort zone.
Once match day arrived, excitement quickly gave way to nerves.
“I was scared. My heart was beating really fast,” Nicholas said. “The girl next to me said the same thing … we were both pretty nervous.”
By the time he stepped onto the field carrying Argentina’s flag, the nerves had faded.
“When I got around the fans, I got hyped,” Nicholas said. “I chose my side. I picked Argentina. You would’ve thought I was from Argentina the way I was cheering.” He laughed as he recalled joining thousands of fans inside the packed stadium. “I was screaming with all the fans.”
Looking ahead, Nicholas hopes his experience inspires other young people to believe in themselves and pursue opportunities they might otherwise overlook.
“I would say to stay confident and keep your head focused on your goals and the things you want to do in life, and..if people open the door for you to take [the opportunity]”
The day before the match, Nicholas could only imagine what it would feel like to step onto the World Cup stage. After it was over, he said the experience was even bigger than he had pictured.
